Professional News

College of Social Work to Host Conference on LGBTQIA Issues for Behavioral Health, Other Helping Professionals

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 15, 2016)  The University of Kentucky College of Social Work in collaboration with the UK Office of LGBTQ* Resources, Bluegrass Center for Teacher Quality and licensed clinical social worker, Cassie Brown, will be holding a conference titled “Out in the Open: LGBTQIA Issues for Behavioral Health and Other Helping Professionals” on June 30, 2016, at the Fayette County Extension Office.

The conference will provide a variety of workshops designed to provide additional knowledge and awareness to behavioral health and other helping professionals. Plenary speakers and licensed clinical social workers Edwin Hackney, presenting on LGBTQ history, and Cassie Brown, presenting on gender variance, bring immense experience to the "Out in the Open Conference."

The conference will incorporate a panel discussion including two transgender allies and one health care professional to serve as a platform for bringing together diverse voices within the LGBTQIA communities and allies.

“My hope is that this conference will create an open and honest environment that sparks conversation, encourages understanding, and results in new knowledge and resources gained,” said Christina Gevedon, of the College of Social Work.

With a remarkable lineup of speakers, panelists and much more, the goal of this conference is to encourage open conversations and open minds through gained knowledge of LGBTQIA topics.

Geared for professionals at the basic, intermediate, advanced and clinical levels, this conference will discuss the following topics: LGBTQ history, HIV/AIDs (fulfills HIV/AIDs SW requirement), LGBTQ* 101, transgender experiences, working with cultural competency, LGBTQ* health care considerations, working with LGBTQ youth, and gender variance.

This conference will provide 7.5 continuing education units (CEUs) for social workers and psychologists through the UK Office of Professional Development and Continuing Education. Teaching professional development credit for this conference will be provided by the Bluegrass Center for Teacher Quality.

While geared towards behavioral health and other helping professionals, all individuals seeking additional knowledge regarding LGBTQIA issues are encouraged to register.

“It is not simply our participants that this event will touch but also those they come into contact with, as professionals, and as citizens, siblings, children, parents and friends,” said Cassie Brown, licensed clinical social worker and conference guest speaker.

The deadline to register for the "Out in the Open Conference" is June 24, 2016. For more information on this conference, or to register visit http://ceu.uky.edu. Teachers, students and those not seeking CEs can register by phone with Christina Gevedon 859-257-2035.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Blair Hoover, 859-257-6398; blair.hoover@uky.edu